Duke basketball vs SMU: Score prediction, scouting report for Blue Devils in Dallas

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Duke basketball is playing at SMU for the first time in 47 years.

The fourth-ranked Blue Devils (11-2, 3-0 ACC) will ride a seven-game winning streak into Dallas on Saturday (2:15 p.m., CW Network) for their first road game of 2025. Duke will try to win its first four ACC road games for the first time since 2020.

The Mustangs (11-2, 2-0) have lost three of four games against Duke, but the programs haven’t played since the 1988 NCAA Tournament. The Devils earned a 24-point victory at SMU in 1977.

Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for Duke at SMU.

Cooper Flagg joins Duke basketball club that includes Zion Williamson

With more than 200 points and 100 rebounds through 13 games, Cooper Flagg is the sixth Blue Devil in program history to accomplish that feat. Three of those players — Jahlil Okafor, Marvin Bagley and Zion Williamson — went on to be named ACC Player of the Year. Flagg had 24 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds against Virginia Tech on New Year’s Eve. Look for more of the same against an SMU defense that is 94th in efficiency, according to KenPom.com.

Duke basketball defense vs Boopie Miller, SMU offense

SMU is 13th nationally in scoring offense, leading the ACC with an average of 87.2 points per game. The Mustangs will face their tallest task of the season to this point against the Blue Devils, who are limiting opponents to 59 points per game. Auburn, Kansas and Kentucky are the only teams so far to reach 70 points against Duke.

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At 15.4 points and 5.9 assists per game, Wake Forest transfer Boopie Miller has paced the Mustangs’ offense. Miller, who averaged 21 points and seven assists in the last two games, had 15 points and five assists in the Demon Deacons’ win against Duke last season.

Sion James, Duke defensive rebounding against SMU

Duke has outrebounded 10 of its 13 opponents and is 30th nationally in rebounding…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/duke-basketball-vs-smu-score-090427331.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2025-01-03 09:04:00

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